Just weeks after the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC)
outlined its plan to implement Electronically Assisted Voting (EAV) system, the
Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) has announced it is to research its own
technology to assist the blind and vision impaired vote.

Queensland’s Attorney-General, Cameron Dick, said the ECQ was
using $960,000 to fund research into the technology in an effort to “provide a
framework” for blind and vision impaired voters to cast a secret vote
electronically.

"Under current paper-based systems, many voters require the
assistance of another person to help them cast their ballot," Dick said in a
statement.

"Braille ballot papers were offered at the last state
election in 2009 and that went some way towards addressing this issue, but many
blind or vision-impaired voters can't read Braille.

"The commission is now examining potential alternatives using
electronic technology similar to that already used by many vision-impaired
people on their home computers.”

According to Dick, such a system would benefit an estimated
100,000 blind and vision impaired Queenslanders.

The news follows the VEC’s
move to implement an EAV system, initially planned to suit those with vision
impairments, the system will now suit those with language, memory, reading or
motor difficulties as well.

The VEC outlined
the proposed project in March, which will use 102 touchscreen-based kiosks
deployed to mobile and stationary early voting centre sites around Victoria,
interstate and the United Kingdom during the early voting period from 15 to 26
November this year. E-voting using a telephone will also be available in the
centres.

Just weeks after the Victorian Electoral Commission VEC outlined its plan to implement Electronically Assisted Voting EAV system the Electoral Commission of Queensland ECQ has announced it is to research its own technology to assist the blind and vision impaired vote